The Fading Light

Unworthy. That one word resounds in my thoughts like an echo across the mountains. Unworthy to be here, among the noble and the great. Unworthy to love him. I watch as he checks on each tent, making sure each person is safe. Why did I ever allow myself to fall for him? I am so beneath him. He- I dismiss the pitiful thoughts. I might be unworthy, but I can at least serve his family well.

I force myself to think of other things. The disturbing dream last night has made me pensive. Perhaps the long days of riding has done more than rub my thighs raw. As I pace just outside Gwen and my tent, I spot the silhouette of an eagle in the sky.

My eyes follow the eagle as it circles above our caravan in the twilight sky. Madame Carlisle would swear that it is an auspicious omen, a sign that the fates shine down on us.

But, then again, just last evening she was exclaiming, "We are headed for doom! The whole lot of us shall be killed and our carcasses picked at by the ravens that fly overhead. What a horrid, horrid omen."

Nothing but folly, I think.

Her shrill voice interrupts my reverie. "Miss Amelia, come in right now. Princess Guinevere requires your assistance. Go along now."

"Yes, m'lady." As I stride toward the tent, she grabs my arm.

"Now see that eagle," she says. "We will be safe from all harm. Eagles are very, very fortunate omens." Under my breath, I chuckle. What foolishness, to believe that birds affect the destinies of people. I pause before the tent, breathing in the cool, refreshing air.

Princess Guinevere, or Gwen as I call her, springs up off the couch used for when she travels and grabs my arms. Her blue eyes dance with energy as she spins me around. "You're finally here! I'm dying of boredom!! I needed you ages ago!"

"What difference would I make? You compare me to a toad!" I retort.

"Oh, don't be a ninny. You know I say that because every time I try to convince you to let a man court you, you shut me down."

"Because you're a hopeless romantic! You actually think that some prince will fall madly in love with me just because I am pretty, and then sweep me off my feet. Things like that don't happen in Aspenvale." I respond.

"You are hopeless. Just hopeless." she says.

"You only think that because you are so fortunate to be engaged to Sir William Darby. He could sweep any princess off her feet." She smiles and turns away. Although an arranged marriage, she and Sir William have been so fortunate as to become acquainted with each other before their wedding in a year and a half. He visits with her every day and pours attention on her constantly.

Her gaze turns back to me. "Will you promise to dance at least three dances at the ball in Rhodenheim?"

I roll my eyes. She knows how I hate dancing. The last time I danced at a ball, I had the fattest man in all of Aspenvale step on my toes at least ten times during the three dances he danced with me. Not to mention that one has to create some type of awkward conversation during each dance. I much prefer to spend my time in the training arena, practicing with my sword than attending balls and flirting with men. Gwen adds another comment, "Oh, I know. You probably won't agree because you're too much of a coward. It would mean you would actually have to attend the ball and talk to people."

Her sky blue eyes sparkle mischievously. She knows she has me. I cannot allow her to call me a coward, no matter how much I hate dancing.

"Fine. But only if you agree to stop playing matchmaker for me." I say.

"All right." She agrees too easily. I snort as she says, "What?! I said I won't."

"Suuurre."

"I mean it!"

"We'll see how long this lasts."

"Until I see the next eligible male." She quips. We giggle as she sits down.

My mind wanders back to thinking about how lucky I have been to grow up with her. As a child, my mother had died of consumption and my father ran up a huge debt drinking and gambling. His creditors decided that in order to earn back some of their money they would sell both of us as slaves. I still remember that day on the auction block.

"LOOK AT THIS ONE! THIS STRAPPING YOUNG MAN OUGHT TO BE PERFECT FOR ANY SHIP!" The auctioneer shouts. A tall, young man stands next to my father, shackled hand and foot and dressed in rags just like the rest of us. "WHO WILL GIVE ME FIFTY FOR THIS BOY?"

A shout in the back, "FIFTY!"

"ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE FIFTY. WHO WILL GIVE ME SIXTY?"

Another shout, this time from the front. "SIXTY!"

The auctioneer continues. "CAN I GET SIXTY-FIVE?" Silence. "ALL RIGHT. SIXTY GOING ONCE. SIXTY GOING TWICE. SOLD!" A burly man shoves the young man, causing him to trip on his shackles. Heckles rise from the crowd and the auctioneer laughs with them. Another man shoves my father toward the center of the stand. I hurry to stay next to him. I can't leave him, he's all I have! I need my daddy!

The auctioneer begins "NOW LOOK AT THIS! YOU CAN GET TWO SLAVES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! THIS STRONG MAN WILL BE GREAT FOR ANY FIELD WORKER AND THE LITTLE LASS WILL GROW UP TO BE A GOOD HOUSEMAID. WILL ANY ONE GIVE ME SIXTY FOR THESE TWO?"

A man shouts, "NOBODY WANTS A CHILD! WHAT IS SHE, SIX? SHE WON'T BE ANY USE! JUST SELL THE MAN FOR FIFTY AND GET RID OF THE BRAT!"

The auctioneer begins again, "ALL RIGHT. WHO WILL GIVE ME FIFTY FOR THE MAN?" The same man who had shouted before yells out, "FIFTY!" Before I can even process what is happening, my father is shoved off the stage and a hand grabs me by my hair. "Come on, you worthless brat. Let's get you off the stage before you waste valuable space." The man leads me back to my father's creditors. Their eyes squint at me and they shake their head. The thin one looks at the other and says, "We should just let her go. She won't sell and I don't want to waste the money trying to feed a useless urchin." The fatter man shakes his head and kneels down next to me. He fumbles with the key and after several moments, releases me from my heavy shackles. Standing back up, he says, "Now go."

"Go where? I ain't got anybody." Tears well up in my eyes. No daddy, no momma, no one.

The man gruffly replies, "I don't know and I do not care. Just leave my house. You are dirtying it." With that, he pushes me and I scramble out the door and onto the streets of Caleet.

The streets of Caleet which had seemed exciting before, now seemed mean and threatening. But I had to provide for myself. I joined a gang of urchins and did what I had to do to survive. Thankfully, Prince Eric, Gwen's older brother, caught me when I was eight and brought me to his father. The king took compassion on me and offered me a place in the palace, not just as a servant, but as a companion to his daughter who was a year younger than I.

"Hey, Lee! Where did you go? Because I'm pretty sure you weren't anywhere near here."

I snap back to my surroundings. "I beg your pardon. I was simply thinking about how fortunate I am to be here."

Gwen walks over to me and wraps her arms around me. Her voice is sincere as she says, "I'm the fortunate one. I do not know what I would do without you! You are one of the dearest people in the world to me."

I return her hug and smile. "We can argue about who is more fortunate another time. If I don't get you to bed, Madame Carlisle will storm in here any moment now and demand that you get your beauty sleep!"

"I don't have to listen to her! I do as I please!" she replies as she throws her head back defiantly. I don't even waste the energy to respond though since she had already snatched up her nightgown. "I wish the trip wasn't so long! I can't stand being on a horse much longer!" she comments.

"The horse can't stand you being on it much longer either." Gwen giggles and throws a pillow at me. I catch it and throw it back at her. We grin at each other for a moment. Then, pillows fly at me furiously. I catch one and use it to deflect the others. Slowly making my way through the barrage of pillows, I tackle her onto her bed. "Say you surrender!!" I command.

Giggling, she replies, "Never!" She wriggles out of my grasp and hits me with a pillow. Grabbing up my own, I begin to fight back.

"Girls!" Madame Carlisle shouts. We turn to find her eyes wide with surprise. "That is not lady-like behavior at all. Now both of you to bed. You both need your beauty sleep." With a sly glance between us we both slip into our beds for the night. My bed pales in comparison to Gwen's but anything is a thousand times better than sleeping on the streets. The moments slip by, as I listen to Gwen's faint breathing.

A noise reaches my ears. I slowly sit up.

"Who's there?" I ask, trying not to wake Gwen yet trying to sound forceful. "I said, who's there?" I repeat. But a chilling silence is my only answer.

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Hi everyone! So chapter 1 is back up! Hope you enjoyed it! I would love your feedback! Do you like the changes? Are you wondering about Sir William Darby? And don't forget to read all the updates or you will be confused when the newest chappies go up! And I am working furiously on this story, trying to get as much up as possible before school. Please comment and vote!!First person to comment and vote will get the next chapter dedicated to them. This chappie is dedicated to @a_person66 for her amazing books!!! Honestly, her story The False Princess is one of the best books ever. Made me want to write down my pet daydream. So voila! The Fading Light! Anyways check out her stories! You won't regret it!

So here is a question for all of you wonderful people,

Do you remember the old Teen Titans? Who was your favorite?

I honestly loved that show! Raven was my all-time favorite, but I loved Cyborg too!

Hopefully I will be able to have all the rest back up soon. My school starts in less than a week so a lot less time to write. L So sad!!! Anyways have a fantastic day!!!!